Government continues to invest in infrastructure in the provinces to support anti-poverty efforts.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated Friday a new provincial government complex in Maguindanao.
The new complex will house the provincial building, sports and social center and other services.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the new structures are testaments to the President’s determination to promote national development especially in Mindanao.
PGMA pinasinayaan ang bagong government complex sa Maguindanao
Tuloy-tuloy ang pamumuhuhan ng pamahalaan para mapag-ibayo ang mga serbisyo sa mga lalawigan.
Pinasinayaan ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo nitong Biyernes ang isang bagong provincial government complex sa Maguindanao.
Sa loob ng complex, matatagpuan ang mga gusali ng pamahalaang panlalawigan, ang sports center, social center at iba pa.
Ayon kay Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, ang mga bagong gusali ay testamento ng determinasyon ng Pangulo para magkaroon ng pambansang pag-unlad lalo na sa Kamindanawan.
GMA to LGUs: Adopt viable and affordable solid waste management systems
The President said there are cheaper and practical ways the LGUs can adopt to solve the garbage problem in their respective areas.
“If you don’t have a sanitary landfill, I am proposing a big MRF as substitute compliance that can help sort out and process the garbage in the open dumpsite,” she said.
As proposed by the Cotabato City government, the setting up of a sanitary landfill type of solid waste management system in their area is estimated at P76-million.
Under the 60-40 LGU-national government sharing, Cotabato City will only shoulder P6-million while the national government will contribute P4 million.
The Chief Executive also proposed the use of charcoal briquetting machines as another solution to solid waste management.
Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said one charcoal briquetting machine costs P63,500, much cheaper compared to other solid waste management systems.
Aside from reducing the volume of wastes to be disposed, Gerochi said, charcoal briquetting also helps eliminate or at least minimize the use of forest products as raw materials for charcoal like wood.
With a production capacity of 300 kilograms per day, he said, briquetting can generate substantial earnings.
“There are really a lot of inexpensive technologies. What is needed is the sharing of these technologies,” the President said.
RP is recognized as 1 of best performing economies in Asia
In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Remonde cited Business World’s report showing that “the peso has outperformed most emerging market currency so far this year and is likely to prove a strong value in 2009 as the Philippine economy is least vulnerable to the factors of hammering markets elsewhere.”
Remonde added that the Philippines will likely be the only nation in Southeast Asia to post a sharp pick-up on its balance of payment surplus in 2009, partly, the result of loans and privatized proceeds. So, talagang dapat din nating malaman na kinikilala talaga ang ating bansa ngayon bilang the best performing economy in Southeast Asia despite the global crisis.”
Reports said the U.S. is now showing signs of improvement and recovery from the crisis, which Remonde said will augur well for the Philippines and the rest of the world. As you know, “may kasabihan nga na that when America is sick, the rest of the world catches cold. And it is precisely that reason na noong nagkaroon ng pag-collapse iyong mga financial houses ng Amerika ang buong mundo ngayon ay naharap itong global economic crisis.”
“Buti na lamang dahil sa vision at determination ng ating Pangulo, we are not as badly affected as the rest of the world,” Remonde said.
Besides, he said, during President Arroyo the Philippines diversified its export market and now “medyo iyong percentage ng ating international trade with the US has already gone down a bit compared to the previous years. So, we have become less dependent on the US for trade though the US remains our major trading partner and a world political and economic leader.”
Remonde repeated that President Arroyo has her plate full attending to her economic programs, creating jobs and addressing poverty and hunger rather than political issues like charter change.
“As I have already pointed out, si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay wala ng panahon diyan sa mga pulitikang usapin. Dahil siya po ay nakatutok po sa ating ekonomiya at sa paglikha ng trabaho,” Remonde stressed anew.
“By continuing investment in hunger mitigation programs, the President seemed to have succeeded in this area as borne by the Social Weather Station February survey showing hunger incidence dipping to only 15.5 percent, Remonde said.
“Ang sinabi nga ng Pangulo sa kanyang talumpati kahapon na patuloy ang investment ng ating gobyerno sa mga food for work program, food for school program, livelihood program at ipagpatuloy at i-eexpand po ang pakikipagtulungan ng ating gobyerno sa simbahan at iba pang mga faith-based organizations na magkakaroon ng mga joint projects like feeding programs and livelihood programs po diyan.
Finally, he said, the Department of Public Works and Highways is now rushing its construction of a major road project that will link Surigao with Davao. This biggest road project for Mindanao was discussed in the Cabinet meeting in Misamis Oriental where the President tasked DPWH to work 24/7 to ensure its completion.
He added that the President inaugurates today the P218 million provincial government complex in Maguindanao which will house the provincial Capitol, sports and social center and other government offices. Of the P215 million, P25 million came from the President’s Social Fund. She will lead the ribbon cutting to be assisted by ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, the Maguindanao Governor, and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of ARMM, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and other top local officials.
PGMA urges Prov’l Boards to help address economic crisis
Keynoting the 18th National Assembly of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) at the Grand Ballroom of the Apo View Hotel here, the President urged the league members to use their power and initiate programs that will help cushion the adverse effects of the economic crisis.
President Arroyo told the PBMLP members that their power of the purse and power to legislate play a significant influence in their provinces because no programs can be formulated and implemented without their blessings.
“Now, your will in your provinces are being summoned to address the world economic crisis that is beating the world today,” the President stressed.
She assured them the National Government is exerting all its best efforts to help cushion the impact of the economic crisis, especially on the poor and the most vulnerable sectors of society.
The President cited the steps the government has taken to help the electronics sector which was hardest hit by the crisis.
“This is something you (the provincial government) must look at also in your provinces,” the President said.
She urged the PBMLP members to legislate practical and doable programs that may include reducing by 15 percent their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), as well as cutting down on electricity and fuel consumption.
“Mobilize your young graduates,” she advised.
“Together we can achieve our vision of a strong and resilient Philippines if there is unity among us,” the President said.
GMA lines up biggest job fairs starting June 12
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Arroyo administration is lining up the biggest job fairs beginning Independence Day, June 12 and days after that to provide a chance to dislocated overseas workers and the unemployed to look for jobs and earn locally.
The theme for this year’s Independence Day celebration is job creation. “We are doing away with the usual and the center of our celebration is holding the biggest and widest jobs fair not just in Luneta but in every part of the country,” Remonde said.
Creating jobs is the priority of the President right now, Remonde said belying reports that she is behind the moves to push charter change in the lower chamber.
Published reports showed job watch and GMA lifeline training incentives for the jobless, which the executive is pushing hard to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis to the Philippines.
The President is pushing for incentives to be granted to workers displaced in the electronics sector, which is hardest hit by the global financial crisis, Remonde added.
On concerns raised about the Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of power rate hikes, Remonde said the public must understand that ERC is an independent division and the President cannot dictate on its policies.
“Gayun pa man ang magagawa ng ating Pangulo at ng ating pamahalaan na siya naman ginagawa ng ating Pangulo ngayon at ng ating pamahalaan ay ang paglikha ng mga oportunidad at pag-promote ng mga investments sa power sector in order to build capacity so that with more capacity, we will have more power sources to bring down the cost of power,” Remonde explained.
And that is exactly what the President is doing now, Remonde explained.
DOT reports 4.01% increase in Boracay tourist arrival
The DOT regional office headed by Director Edwin Trompeta further reported that the increase was obtained because of the total registered arrival which is 99,939 as compared to the figure for the same months last year which was 96,085.
Tourists from Hong Kong totaled 1,608; Australia 1,186; Germany 1,154, and United Kingdom, 1,113.
The total receipts generated by the tourists in the resort island amounted to P1,837,218.612.60 for the months of January and February.
Power rate adjustment ng Napocor, inaprubahan ng ERC
Inaprubahan ng ERC ang power rate adjustment ng Napocor na magtaas ng 1.40 piso per kWh pero dahil sa privatization ng 2 power plants sa Visayas, bumaba ito sa 83 sentimos.
Ayon kay ERC executive director Francis Juan, hindi napapanahon ang power rate adjustment dahil sa krisis wala silang magagawa dahil kailangan ding i-sustain ng Napocor ang serbisyo sa mga customer.
Church, state call on public to support Earth Hour
As part of the celebration of Earth Hour, Cardinal Rosales calls on the public to turn off electricity tomorrow from 8:30 to 9:30 PM not only to save energy but to lessen effects of global warming.
The Environmental Management Bureau and environmental experts urged the public to heed the call on the improvement and effect of climate change
Palace denies any role in House Cha-Cha moves
Malacanang categorically denied today any role or complicity in the reported bid by its House allies to revive their Charter Change (Cha-Cha) initiatives when Congress resumes session after the Holy Week break.
In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President is not even thinking about Charter Change, and rather than waste her time in never-ending partisan politics she is keenly “focused on the economy, development, creating jobs and putting food on the table particularly for the less fortunate.”
The House initiatives include a resolution authored by House Speaker Prospero Nograles seeking to make the country’s business climate more investor-friendly by amending before June this year certain economic provisions of the Charter.
A similar measure by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte is seeking to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution.
“The President is not thinking about that and I think all the political observers agree that there is simply not enough time for that issue. I agree with that observation and I also agree with the pronouncement of Secretary (Gabriel) Claudio that definitely there will be elections in 2010,” Remonde said.
“The President’s actions speaks louder than words,” Remonde said, as the President has already approved poll automation and the 1987 Charter, even in its transitory provisions, clearly prohibits the term extension of elected officials.
“There is nothing in the 1987 Charter to show that the term of office of elected officials can be extended beyond Cha-Cha or in its transitory provisions. Walang chance na magkaroon ng Cha-Cha to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or any elected official whose terms specifically is set to expire in 2010.
Remonde said no amount of Cha-Cha can extend the term of the President or any elected officials for that matter.
“Otherwise, all elected officials in the future will just amend laws or the Charter to extend their terms making it a vicious cycle,” Remonde said.
Remonded added that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has already stated that there is no budget for such exercise just like in cases of recall elections.
He said it seem that critics of the President are just out to exploit the Cha-Cha and term extension issues which amount to senselessly whipping a dead horse like what Cha-Cha has become.
Remonde said these critics should better involved themselves “on things that would improve the conditions of the people particularly at these difficult times.”
As Speaker Nograles pronounced the House would be pushing Cha-Cha before June this year, Remonde said Nograles also said that the President is not behind such move.
“It is the same Speaker Nograles who also said that while they are administration allies, they are not necessarily the President’s lap dogs. So this means that these people cannot be dictated upon,” Remonde said.
Remonded said Charter Change has not even been discussed during Cabinet meetings and her critics are just out “to discredit and demonize our hardworking President.”
Dacer's 4 daughters file double-murder raps vs. Senator Lacson
The complaint was filed by legal practitioners coming from Ongkiko Manhit Custodia & Acorda Law Office in behalf of Dacer’s daughters -- Carina, Sabina, Emily and Amparo -- who are all residing in the United States.
Others facing charges in connection with the case include former PNP and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force Force (PAOCTF) Sr. Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino, Glenn Dumlao and Cesar Mancao II.
The affidavit Dacer’s daughters were referring to was Mancao’s sworn statement “disclosing all that he knows of the circumstances that led to the killing of our father and Mr. Corbito (in November 24, 2000).”
”Aquino responded to Lacson that he intends to neutralize or liquidate Delta (Dacer) first because Erap (former President Joseph Estrada) was already peeved at him (the publicist),” the former PAOCTF senior officer further said.
The complaint affidavit added that the complicity of Senator Lacson in the murder of Dacer and his driver could be further shown by the latter’s temerity in appointing Mancao as the head of the team tasked to investigate the abduction and subsequent killing of the two victims so that the crime could be covered up.
”Senator Lacson even consistently met with Mr. Mancao and Mr. Aquino in the United State from October 2001 to September 2003 and provided for them. This makes Senator Lacson criminally liable for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1829, Section 1 (harboring, concealing and facilitating the escape of any person he knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect, has committed any offense under existing penal laws),” the affidavit further said.
They also stated that their father even told them a few months before his abduction and death that “there should be no one to blame but (Senator) Lacson.”
"In light, it is respectfully requested that the appropriate action be taken by this Honorable Office (DOJ) insofar as this newly-discovered evidence, i.e., Mr. Mancao’s affidavit dated February 13, 2009 is concerned,” they further stated.
Mancao, uuwi na raw sa Martes
Dating Police Supt. Cesar Mancao, inaasahang darating sa Pilipinas sa araw ng Martes
PNP, to file charges vs Gabriel for using children in Anti-US protests
PNP to file criminal case against Gabriela for using children in rallies and protests especially rallies infront of the US Embassy on Nicole’s rape case.
